This Saturday I joined up with a crew of avid photographers and we took to the streets, stopping complete strangers to take their portraits. Although daunting at first, the afternoon proved to be really successful; we all managed to step outside our comfort zones and push one another to find willing candidates. Here is my first step to portraiture, and hopefully not my last!

This weekend I decided to join another Meetup group for photography. We had 3 different challenges. The first was event photography where we were required to tell stories through our images. The second challenge was photographing architecture through its simplistic forms. Finally the third challenge was was fashion, which, funny enough, ended up being the most difficult one; turns out I don't know my camera as well as I thought... figuring out how to adjust lighting and shutter speed when models are moving is a pain. Any who... I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and here is what came out of the event! Enjoy! ​

As a promise to myself, I have been looking into workshops to help develop my photographic practice. This weekend was the first session I attended regarding composition and thought I would share the end results. The Tate Modern is a beautiful museum, so I really cannot take much credit for any of its beauty I replicated in my images. Nevertheless, I feel like I learned a little and hope you will enjoy the photos!

A friend and I were very excited to join an organised day trip to Glastonbury in an effort to learn more about the mythology behind King Arthur and his famous quest. It is believed that the grail resides in Glastonbury, which is believed to be Arthur's Avalon (very cool). Here are some shots of our trip.

So... many apologies for not posting for such a long time - life was very busy for a while there and, now that it's summer, I am finding that I have more free time (arguably too much... Pokémon Go has become my life). I am also coming out of a phase where I am traveling but not taking as many photos; I am learning to appreciate moments more and more rather than hiding behind a lens. It has been strangely liberating not taking pictures everywhere I go. I do, however, have some photos I have accumulated over the last 6 months of various trips I have been on around the UK and am finally ready to share. I am particularly proud of a feat I accomplished this spring where I climbed Scafell Pike, the tallest peak in England! Pretty cool! ​

This trip to Iceland was a long time coming. For years I'd been dreaming about the land of fire and ice. Consequently, this trip did not disappoint. To sum it up? Dancing green lights, giant water-blowing holes and free labour were aplenty.

Let me explain. The aurora has been on my bucket list since I was a child. Living in Canada you may think to yourself "doesn't this girl live north enough to see them?" Incorrect. Thanks to light pollution and being nearest to the most southern tip of Canada, I have never had the privilege... and truly, it is a privilege.

For whatever reason, geysers have always boggled me. Having limited background knowledge of geology, they seemed almost magical. It was an exciting moment when the first one bubbled up and erupted in a cascade of hot water. What a tease though! Every time the water would bubble slightly, you were poised at the camera in anticipation... and then... nothing. Suddenly, when you least expected it (and when tourists were least prepared), it would erupt! An exciting spectacle, to say the least.

Free labour, you ask? Well in order to get myself over to Iceland as cheaply as possible, I signed up for a volunteer work camp experience. I met a group of travelers at a hostel in Reykjavik and we journeyed through the dramatic Icelandic landscape without saying so much as hello. You really wouldn't expect that we would all become great friends by the end of the trip; working, cooking, sleeping, showering (...eek), and exploring with the same people for a week and half can really bond you together. We helped clean up the small town of Eskifjordur while also working on renovating the school house we were living in. Shower facilities? You had to walk to the local pool and shower publicly. Oh yes... I forgot to mention that you had to do this in the nude. The Icelanders had a rule that you had to shower naked before the use of the pool facilities. Why? Not too sure... but you looked like a fool if you were the only one showering in your bathing suit.

Overall, it was an incredible experience and I truly recommend visiting this beautiful place.

I cannot express enough how much I love Scotland; it is such an underrated country for its sheer beauty and coloured history, Edinburgh in particular was a city I felt worth a second visit, considering the last time I had only been there for two to three days - hardly enough time to appreciate the city so completely.

Today we took a day trip with a guided group to Rochester, Kent where you will find England's tallest castle. I have not been to many castles, so I cannot really give a fair comparison, but I have to say this is the first I've been to that, when you see it you think to yourself, "they must have filmed a movie here... this beast is way too cool..." In the 13th century the castle was also temporarily taken into possession by the famously reviled King John. The area is also known to be a favourite of Charles Dickens who wrote many of his famous books here, including Great Expectations. Enjoy!

You can find some pretty amazing deals on Groupon. In November some friends and I were fortunate enough to snag tickets on an evening booze cruise along the Thames. I am still fiddling with my camera, trying to find the best settings to take night shots, and luckily some turned out nicely. My favourite shot has got to be the one of the Shard. Enjoy!

In November (yes... I know... this was two months ago and I am behind) a friend and I visited France for the weekend to see the famous Strasbourg Christmas Market. Needless to say it was exactly what we imagined and more. Despite the cold, we managed to really enjoy ourselves and get acquainted with this small city and its friendly locals. It was a short 24-hour experience, but well worth it.